Carrying case



Sept. 1962 G. s. IKELHEIMER 3,052,333

CARRYING CASE Filed Sept. 28, 1960 INV EN TOR.

GERALD IKE-lHE/MER Mafia/z, fiillazze, MIga/JiisZl ger flTTOBA/EYS nite tates atent 3,52,333 CARRYHNG CASE Gerald S. Ikelheimer, 95 Lexington Ave., Apt. 1H, New York, N.Y. Filed Sept. 28, 1960, Ser. No. 53,980 2 Claims. (tCl. 19041) This invention relates generally to container constructions and more particularly for carrying cases of the type generally used to carry merchandise in such manner as to facilitate access thereto and the display of the content.

Heretofore carrying cases of the type described have been provided of relatively stiff material such as fibreboard or the like. The previous constructions were such that the carrying cases were manufactured of different segments of material joined together. The joinder took place around the edges of the carrying case. There were, therefore, areas of exterior weakness and there was presented an unsightly outer appearance.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a. carrying case consisting of only three panels in which the side panels are molded in a particular form and having a preshaped center panel.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a carrying case wherein the joinder of the side panels to the intermediate center panel is not made around the side edges of the carrying case.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a sturdy securement of the side panels to the center panel whereby movement therebetween under all conditiods is completely prevented.

A feature of the present invention is the provision of a carrying case wherein the joinder of the side panels to the center panel is completely concealed to present an outwardly attractive and extremely durable construction.

Still another feature of the present invention is the provision of concealing and reinforcing means over the joinder of the side panels to the center panel which means are easily applicable and in no way interfere with the joining operation.

The various objects and novel features which characterize the invention are further set forth in the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is described.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a carrying case constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevation of the case;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the reinforcing and decorating strip for the case;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section of a modified form of the overlying strip attachment of the carrying case of the present invention.

Referring particularly to the drawings there is shown a carrying case generally designated as 10. The carrying case is of substantially rectangular shape and is provided with a bottom edging 11 adapted to fit over a bottom portion (not shown) adapted to carry articles of merchandise. The body portion 12 of the carrying case comprises substantially rigid material such as for example, fibreboard, plastic or the like. A latch 13 is provided adapted to lock the bottom portion of the carrying case to the body 12.

In accordance with the present invention the body portion is made of three panels. Side panels 16 and 17 are provided with inturned ends 18 and 19. Importantly, the

side panels are molded into the desired shape. Interme diate the side panels is a preshaped central panel. The central panel is so formed as to either overlap or be overlapped by the inturned ends 18 and 19 of the side panels. In the embodiment shown as exemplary of the construction of the carrying case of the present invention, the central panel is provided with inturned edges 23 and 24 each of which forms a shoulder 25. While this construction as aforesaid is set forth as exemplary it will be understood that the inturned ends 18 and 19 may be provided with inturned portions whereby the central panel will be substantially straight at its edges or there may be an overlapping relationship between the inturned ends of the side panels and the edges of the central panel.

The present invention provides a carrying case wherein the side panels are molded and joined to the preshaped central panel with the joinder occurring not around the side edges of the carrying case, but rather beyond said edges and in the overall central portion. As shown, the central panel 22 is secured to the molded shaped side panels 16 and 17 by means of rivets in the fashion hereinafter described.

Further in accordance with the present invention an overlying strip 27 of pliable material, as for example rubber, plastic or the like is disposed over the connecting portion of the side panels 16 and 17 and overlying the connecting rivets 26. This strip provides for reinforcing, decorative and concealing means so that neither the joinder of the panels nor the rivets themselves are exposed to view. The strip 27 is of a unique and novel construction, provided at one edge thereof a beaded portion 29 and a relatively flat portion 31. The beaded portion 29 overlies the connection between the panels. This beaded area has a portion 30, thereunder, which overlaps and conceals the rivets 26.

There is presented by the present invention, a simple and inexpensive method of manufacturing the carrying case. In manufacture, the side panels, the side panels 16 and 17 are first molded with the inturned ends 18 and 19. The strip 27 is then affixed to the inturned ends 18 and 19 of the side panel by any suitable means, as for example, by stitching 28. The stitching passes through the relatively flat portion 31 of the strip. The preshaped central panel 22 is then placed in position intermediate the side panels and by reason of the present invention it is possible to rivet or otherwise secure central panel to the side panels by simply moving the beaded portion 29 of the strip 27 out of the way during the securing operation. Thus a previously costly operation is eliminated and further by this present invention complex joining of segments of the carrying case to form the entire unit is also avoided.

As shown, the strip 27 is further secured at its respective ends to the body by means of a rivet 32 or the like which aids in maintaining the strip in position.

In the modified form of the overlying strip attachment shown in FIG. 6, the side panel 16 is provided with an inturned end 18, molded into the desired shape. The central panel 22 is disposed beneath the inturned end 18 of the side panel. Disposed intermediate the upper portion of the central panel 22 at its edge, and the lower portion of the central panel 22 at its edge, and the lower portion of the end of the side panel 18 is a substantially U-shaped strip 40 made of pliable material. The rivet 26 is fastened through the central panel 22, the bottom leg 41 of the strip 40, and the side panel 18. The upper leg 42 of the strip 40 is disposed over the rivet concealing it from view and providing the protective and decorative effect.

The carrying case of the present invention comprises three preshaped panels in which there is no necessity for securement along the rounded side edges of the case. The

structure is resistant to wear, strong and attractive. The parts of the carrying case may be manufactured and assembled with facility and all normally exposed joining means are concealed.

While the invention has been described in some detail, it will be understood that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An improved body member adapted to be detachably connected to a bottom member of a carrying case comprising:

a. a pair of side panels,

b. each of said panels having a continuous inturned flange extending along the side and top edges thereof only,

0. an inverted U-shaped central panel disposed between said panels, said central panel being substantially coextensive with the continuous flanges of said side panels,

d. the continuous flange of the respective side panels being disposed in overlapping relationship with the adjacent coextensive marginal portions of said central panel,

e. fastening means for connecting the continuous flanges of said side panels to the adjacent marginal portion of said central panel,

1. a continuous strip of resilient material extended along the connection between said side panels and said central panel,

g. said strip including a beaded portion and a mounting portion, and

h. means for securing the mounting portions of each of said strips to the inturned flange of the respective side member so that the beaded portion overlaps and conceals the fastening means securing said side and central panel.

2. An improved body member defining a cover adapted to be detachably connected to a bottom member of a carrying case comprising:

a. a pair of side panels,

h. each of said panels having a continuous inturned flange extending along the side and top edges thereof only,

c. an inverted U-shaped central panel disposed between said panels,

d. said central panel having opposed inturned marginal edge portions extending along the longitudinal edges thereof to define a shoulder, said marginal edge being substantially coextensive with the continuous flanges of the respective side panels,

e. each of said continuous flanges of the respective side panels being disposed in overlapping relationship with the adjacent inturned marginal edge portions of said central panel,

f. a rivet for connecting the continuous flange of each of said side panels to the adjacent inturned marginal edge portion of said central panel,

g. a continuous strip of resilient material extended along the connection of each of said side panels and said central panel inwardly of the corners of said body member,

h. said strip including a beaded portion and a mounting portion,

i. means for securing the mounting portion of each of said strips to the inturned flange of the respective side member so that the beaded portion overlaps and conceals the fastening means securing said side and central panels, and

j. a fastener for securing the ends of beaded portions of said flexible strip to the central panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

